Bus fares on subsidised public transport services provided by Bus Éireann and Local Link in Galway are to be reduced by an average of 20% from Monday, April 11.
The fare reductions will benefit Bus Éireann customers on city services in Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford, as well as town services in Athlone, Balbriggan, Drogheda, Dundalk, Navan and Sligo.
Fares on Bus Éireann’s inter-urban and commuter services will also fall, but fares on the company’s commercial Expressway services are not included.
Passengers on TFI Local Link rural services operated by 15 Transport Co-ordination Units around the country, including in Galway, will also see their fares drop by 20%.
This means that a journey from Galway to Clifden that currently costs €11.20 using a Leap card will now cost €8.96.
On Galway city services, the Leap fare of €1.68 will drop by 20% to €1.35.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD said that they want to make it easier for people to be able to choose public transport throughout the country.
He said that he is delighted that this saving of 20% off public transport costs is now being implemented for commuters across regional cities and towns particularly.
“People are coming under more and more pressure as the price of essentials continues to increase,” said Minister Ryan.
“As one element of a suite of measures being introduced by the government, this fare reduction will go some way to easing some of the financial strain that households are experiencing.”
He said that choosing public transport over the private car, even for one trip a week, can begin to help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
“It will also help improve the air quality and cut down on congestion in our cities and towns throughout the country.
“And at a time when fuel security is a greater concern than it has been in decades, leaving the car behind, if at all possible, is one of the best things we can all do to help reduce our energy use.”
